What is Jacobson's Relaxation Technique?

Jacobson’s relaxation technique is a type of therapy that focuses on tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups in sequence. It’s also known as progressive relaxation therapy. By concentrating on specific areas and tensing and then relaxing them, you can become more aware of your body and physical sensations.

Dr. Edmund Jacobson invented the technique in the 1920s as a way to help his patients deal with anxiety. Dr. Jacobson felt that relaxing the muscles could relax the mind as well. The technique involves tightening one muscle group while keeping the rest of the body relaxed, and then releasing the tension.

Research shows a connection between relaxation and blood pressure, perhaps because stress is a contributing factor to high blood pressure. Research both old and new provides some evidence that Jacobson’s relaxation technique may help people with epilepsy reduce the amount and frequency of their seizures. Larger sample sizes are needed.

Jacobson’s relaxation technique is commonly used to help people with insomnia as well. Over the years, several studies have looked at whether it’s effective. Some have had mixed results, while others show more promise. In some cases, people who didn’t get more sleep still felt better rested after relaxation therapy.

Joy Rains is the author of Meditation Illuminated: Simple Ways to Manage Your Busy Mind. She recommends beginning the relaxation therapy with a breathing exercise and then moving from the feet up. She suggests the following exercises:

Feet

Bring your attention to your feet.

Point your feet downward, and curl your toes under.

Tighten your toe muscles gently, but don’t strain.

Notice the tension for a few moments, then release, and notice the relaxation. Repeat.

Become aware of the difference between the muscles when they’re tensed and when they’re relaxed.

Continue to tense and relax the leg muscles from the foot to the abdominal area.

Abdomen

Gently tighten the muscles of your abdomen, but don’t strain.

Notice the tension for a few moments. Then release, and notice the relaxation. Repeat.

Become aware of the difference between the tensed muscles and the relaxed muscles.

You can also apply relaxation therapy to specific parts of the body. Nicole Spruill, CCC-SLP, is a speech specialist. She uses Jacobson’s relaxation technique to help professionals who sing or do a lot of public speaking prevent and recover from vocal cord strain.

Here is the three-step process Spruill recommends:

Close your hands tightly to feel the tension. Hold for 5 seconds, and slowly allow the fingers to release one by one until they’re completely relaxed.

Press your lips tightly together and hold for 5 seconds, feeling the tension. Slowly release. The lips should be completely relaxed and barely touching after the release.

Finally, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth for 5 seconds, and notice the tension. Slowly relax the tongue until it’s sitting on the floor of the mouth and your jaws are slightly unclenched.

Progressive relaxation therapy is generally safe and doesn’t require a professional’s guidance. Sessions typically last no more than 20-30 minutes, making it manageable for people with busy schedules. You can practice the techniques at home using the instructions from a book, website, or podcast. You can also buy an audio recording that takes you through the exercises.

Q:

Where can I go to learn more about Jacobson’s relaxation technique and other similar methods?

A:

You can ask your doctor for a referral to a psychologist or other mental health professional who uses relaxation techniques to help patients. Not all psychologists or other mental health professionals are knowledgeable about these techniques, though. Therapists often add their own “twist” to the technqiues. Training varies by the type of technique that they use. Some people also buy CDs and DVDs on progressive muscle relaxation and allow the audio to guide them through the process.

Timothy J. Legg, PhD, CRNPAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.